Sony XAV-AX5500 Review & In-Car Walk Through

[@gregg7363]

I had this unit in my 2017 WRX and I loved it. For those 2015 WRX/STI guys you can swap your vents to the 2016+ ones and change out the bezels to avoid the black bars on the side. Scosche makes a radio bezel thats gloss black that looks like OEM. Clean install.

[@MrSngGaming]

Getting this installed on my 2019 CR-V LX in a few weeks. Super excited!

[@gunsofsteele]

@0:14 "Here's the box." We are not cats! Get to the meat already! 😂😂😂

[@1ohmwrecker]

I just got this radio in my Mercedes. You got a pretty good KZbin channel man!👏 thanks for the quick explanation lol.

[@ThrowyaXup]

Will steering wheel volume work with this? Also can you watch KZbin videos?

[@wrzl1675]

I was just looking at the AX5000 but it sounds like I would save a little money buy getting the AX5500 which is $50 more but installation kit for AX5000 with sterling wheel module is $71. Not a big savings but it looks like the AX5500 is a better head unit as well, so thats what I’m going to do.

[@ryanfrazier2987]

I didn't know the 5500 could have custom background images. Crutchfield said it couldn't. Glad I found your video.

[@CarAudioNow]

Glad I could help!

[@wrzl1675]

Pretty much any head unit that has USB music capability can upload wallpaper.

[@thewhitekid2177]

Currently Screen mirrioring a video review about the sony xav 5500 off my xav5500

[@user-hy4jl3uj9e]

Does it play KZbin videos while driving?

[@ethanfeenstra2864]

Why didn’t you play music or go threw those sections

[@Oldhead717]

Hey...I can't get the unit to power off when I installed it..hooked all the wires to the colors and it won't power down when I turn the car off..2011 chevy traverse

[@kevinpatel1507]

Can this model use wireless or you have to plug in your iphone all the time?

[@behruzsultanov452]

You probably have the answer for yourself already, yet I find it important to reply to that comment of yours. I have searched the web, looked up the specification and have digged all options in my AX 5500 - bluetooth is the only wireless option in this model as far as I'm concerned

[@hopelarson06]

How did you get CarPlay to show up? Mine doesn’t show up

[@GODWITHUS0712]

Do you know if it's compatible with the Porsche Cayenne S 05?

[@sidneymeyer9014]

Hi, can you watch KZbin when hooked to weblink from your phone, will KZbin mirror? Also what cell phone wire are you using to plug in the weblink cable in rear of stereo?.

[@CarAudioNow]

You can watch KZbin when hooked into WebLink via the app in the WebLink portal. I wouldn't recommend mirroring it.

[@kevingenoff6203]

Can you reorder the native Sony apps on the homepage? For example, I don't subscribe to SiriusXM, so I'd like to be able to move that to the 2nd page.

[@elstukov]

How about the steering wheel controls? did you need to buy a harness or does the stereo has its own?

[@CarAudioNow]

Everything online pointed towards needing a new harness, but we just connected the sony harness directly to the STI's steering wheel controls in the OEM harness and it worked perfectly. You'll need to program the unit though to recognize each signal from the steering wheel.

[@raddudeski2745]

@@CarAudioNow I got a 2020 WRX so I imagine that the harnesses are the same but I’m pretty much an amateur when it comes down to this stuff. Can you go more in depth by what you mean by directly connecting the Sony harness to the OEM harness? From my understanding it comes with a 3.5mm cable with a few wires hanging out from the end. How did you actually connect it? Or at least, is there any resources online you can point me to that can tell me how to do it?

[@elliotheys1754]

@@raddudeski2745 just use a wire stripper to take the plastic coating off the wire and expose the copper wire itself, and intertwine the new Sony wires with the oem ones, matching colour for colour. Could potentially also re-cover but would need a heat gun or something.

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

If you have Apple CarPlay connected and are using Maps navigation to get voice directions, can you go out of CarPlay and into the radio and still hear CarPlay’s directions?

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

Can it automatically show the backup camera when I shift the car into reverse or do I need to manually tap the camera button on the Home Screen?

[@CarAudioNow]

If it’s wired properly it will show the backup camera aitomatically

[@muralitoday]

I am actually facing problem how to connect the Apple car play, I bought this almost 6 months but couldn’t really used this feature on it , not sure how to connect , but every video showing after connecting the car play

[@kadenmacpherson1231]

If I buy this one could I somehow hook it up to the cars factory DVD player

[@bombproof831]

I would also like to know about this!

[@racinR]

I'm thinking to get the ax7000 for my 2018 sti limited. Do you think will fit on my car?

[@mduran613]

I have been curious about the same this with my truck. They have dash kits which are sold separately. Probably less than $100

[@take1one]

I wanna do the Sony 9500 es in that same console. Probably to big? Think the 8100 would work.

[@Severed89]

How's the Android auto on this

[@sidneymeyer9014]

Does the iPhone need to be set on Hotspot for the weblink to work? I have this same sony 5500 an a iPhone 13 pro max an yes the weblink app has been downloaded is it possible I may have a bad sony head unit? Help.....

[@oslozoya1]

Ive been planning to get mine installed my days off are tue wed i ordered some higher end cables but didnt realize i didnt get fast shipping i dont feel like waiting thinking of using some basic cables for now till those get in and have them swapped out dont know if i should wait grr..

[@timothybriggs8283]

I noticed that the home screen has Apple CarPlay as the app. Can you change it to Android Drive if your not an Apple user?

[@CarAudioNow]

It'll automatically recognize your phone. For iPhones it'll show CarPlay, for Android it'll show Android Auto

[@BuiltTough1776]

How’s the head unit still holding up? That’s my biggest concern.. If alls good I’ll probably buy one!!

[@CarAudioNow]

No issues at all. Although I’d recommended the 5600 instead of the 5500. The 5600 is the updated model but has an HDMI input. We did a review on the 5600 as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5nLnWNtmZeNeJY

[@Carlosx6.]

@@CarAudioNow hey idk if you would see this but what would be the purpose of an hdmi? hooking up games or?

[@senogamoses5319]

Is there a port to plug in the thumb drive ?

[@philipjc1]

Is there a steering wheel control for a 2014 Porsche Boxster S. I have this unit and my steering wheel controls no longer work.

[@DukePT23]

Does parking sensor work?

[@toddavis8151]

Does it charge your phone when you connect it for Apple CarPlay?

[@CarAudioNow]

Yes it does charge your phone when connected

[@wind7027]

which is better .. pros@cons..between Android Auto head unit and latest brands of powerful Android head unit?

[@CarAudioNow]

We did a quick write up about this topic a little while ago. You can read up about it here www.caraudionow.com/cheap-android-head-units/

[@anthonymicha6554]

can CarPlay be used wireless ??

[@CarAudioNow]

No, CarPlay isn’t wireless on this unit you’ll need a wireless adapter.

[@josenavarrete8407]

Did you connect the lightning cord directly to the hardwired dongle on the HU or did you use a usb extension and plug into that? Asking cause I got a 7000 installed and I cannot get CarPlay going at all

[@CarAudioNow]

We just used a normal iPhone usb/lightning cable to plug into the unit's usb input. CarPlay does require you to 'trust' or 'allow' CarPlay in order for it to work on the head unit so it might just be a permissions thing for you or a faulty cable.

[@Frederik10M]

2:25 does that mean you don't need to buy any adapter or extra cable to use your car steering wheel controls?

[@CarAudioNow]

Nope we didn’t need an adapter or extra cables. We used the harness that Sony provided and tapped directly into the Subaru harness.

[@clintjacops958]

That's What We Have in Our 2008 Toyota Highlander! 👍

[@efrendelgado906]

Where does the wire come out from ? Or connect too ?

[@donnasaenz7175]

I just had mine installed in a 2010 Ford escape Limited I will be giving to my grandson. I found that the "plug-in cable" had been installed in the glovebox. You have to use your data cable to plug into the unit's cable to use your phone ("regular, USB connection). You can connect to Bluetooth without the cable but that defeats the purpose of the fancy, new handsfree unit. The cable connection that was installed was nearly useless because the glovebox door will not close if the phone's plugged-in. It's a fairly thick cable. I had to use a thinner data cable to get the door to stay closed. I returned to the shop that installed it, to complain about the cable in the glovebox and was told that they have a flush mount dual USB plug setup they can install for $80 more. To avoid having hanging cables I'm having that installed. The part I want is gloss black so I'll wait until they receive it...next week. Otherwise, I'm highly satisfied with the Sony unit. All in all, the install (complete with the modules they had to use) was around $1050.00.

[@efrendelgado906]

@@donnasaenz7175 yea i ended up buying it a while back. Sold the car I put it in however 😂 thanks for the reply !

[@NorthCascades]

The dim mode made for night time driving is too bright. I don't understand why Sony couldn't add the option of manually adjusting the brightness!

[@donnasaenz7175]

I think that under the "General" settings there is a Display mode. The Brightness is numbered 1 - 5 I think. I haven't used mine at night so I'd better check it. I set it at 5. It was at 2.

[@godsgate]

Does it connect to android auto or run the spotify app etc without having a usb cable attached. also if i was listening to spotify and i left the vehicle and came back later will it carry on from when i left or does it default back to radio and i will have to reselect spotify

[@CarAudioNow]

It does have Android Auto that can be used to run Spotify on the unit. It requires you to use a USB cable to use Android Auto. Or, you can play your music on your phone's Spotify app via Bluetooth. Whether or not it carries on when you get back into the car will depend on whether or not you're using Bluetooth or not and whether or not you played your music or closed the app on your phone after you left the vehicle. Typically it'll default back to the source you used when you turn your car off unless you've disconnected your device from USB (if you were using Android Auto) it or it is unable to reconnect to your Bluetooth.

[@darylrobert3673]

does it have that annoying start up "OK" screen?..

[@CarAudioNow]

Yea, I think all of the newest Sony's still have that warning/acknowledgement screen on startup. It still goes away if you don't tap ok though.

[@CZ-fy8df]

Are you able to adjust the beep volume? It looked like you turned it up? My beep is so loud it hurts. Also, is your music volume loud? What I mean is, I rarely have to turn mine up past 5 or 6. I can't imagine what 50 or 70 would be like.

[@CarAudioNow]

The beep volume can’t be adjusted. Only turned on and off. But if you go to the Sound>>volume settings you can adjust other volume settings. Ours wasn’t that loud but volume depends on the source you’re using, if it’s plugged in or Bluetooth, what the volume settings are at, if your system is amplified… etc

[@blueghost4121]

Can you mirror KZbin?

[@CarAudioNow]

Yes, you can stream KZbin via the WebLink functionality

[@AbgehaX]

As far as I know it is not possible to jump to different positions in .mp3 files by using the touchscreen, is this correct?

[@CarAudioNow]

Correct, it's basically previous, pause/play or next song

[@robking5096]

Battery has left the chat

[@joeygarcia6783]

😲

[@cbtsession]

You didn’t talk about KZbin or Netflix at all. Not a very complete review

[@googleuser5482]

The warning screen is so annoying, if I'd known about it I would've bought another brand. Sony doesn't work with Crux interface in GM Bose vehicles, pretty much poorly engineered pos.

[@newfie-dean5803]

Another brand to get their warning screen, lol

[@Brock8bp]

This dam thing can't hold shit for power

[@mg-sd8db]

there's the 5600 with maxed amp on it... I love the 5500... didn't need Dr. Dre to blow out my ears :)

[@MrScott3060]

I am sorry but sony is junk!! I just paid $1,100 for this radio installed and it sounds like crap! My stop radio was better anmd for $1,100 it should sound much better than stock. Pay more and get a kenwood or another brand name. This is NOT worth the money!!!!

[@CurvedSlightly]

Thanks for turning the volume down so I can't hear you. Don't worry, I'll turn my volume up really high, then when it plays something else it will be really loud, thanks 👍

[@aaronorourke1317]

Are you gonna cry?

[@BustinShit]

I could hear him just fine, it’s something on your end buddy

[@HoweyJR_]

@@aaronorourke1317 sounds like he is LMFAO